Who do you usually turn to for advice? Do you turn to a trusted mentor, friend, or family member? Regardless of whom you may turn to, we would all agree that we need to take seriously whom we turn to for advice. There are many people from whom we can get advice, but not everyone gives sound advice. We have all learned, sometimes the hard way, that we must be very careful whom we go to for advice. Rehoboam certainly had to learn this lesson the hard way when he was king of Israel.
When Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, became king of Israel, a group of leaders of Israel came to him saying, "Your father was a harsh master… Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects" (verse 4). He asked them for three days to consider what they said, and then he would return with an answer to their request (verse 5). Then, Rehoboam went to "older men who had counseled his father" and asked how he should answer those people (verse 6). These older counselors said, "If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects" (verse 7). In other words, these men told Rehoboam that if he granted their request, he would have a good relationship with his subjects, and things would go well for him and his kingdom. Unfortunately, Rehoboam "rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisors” (verse 8). They told him to go back to the leaders of Israel and say, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I am going to make them even heavier!” (verses 10-11). These men told him to answer their request to deal kindly with them harshly. Unfortunately, Rehoboam took their advice and told them, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” (verse 14).
As a result of Solomon's rejection of their request to deal kindly with them, the people of Israel revolted. Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem (verse 18). They made Jeroboam the "king over all Israel" (verse 20). As a result, Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom consisted of ten tribes and was led by Jeroboam. It was called Israel. The Southern Kingdom consisted of two tribes and was led by Rehoboam. It was known as Judah.
Imagine all of the heartache that could have been avoided if Rehoboam had listened to the sound advice of his father's advisors. Because he listened to the men whom he had grown up with, the whole nation of Israel was upended. If there is one lesson we can learn from this story, it is that it matters whom we turn to for advice. We must turn to people who offer sound, godly advice that looks out for not only our best interest but also God's.
Take some time to think about the people you receive advice from. Are they good influences? Are they seeking the Lord and living in a way that pleases Him? If you have those kinds of influences in your life, thank God for them and commit to reaching out to them for help when you need advice. If any people are not living to honor God and offering wise advice, commit to taking them out of your sphere of influence, knowing that they are not going to offer you wise advice.
1Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt,for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. 3 The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. 4 “Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.”
5 Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer.” So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”
7 The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. 9 “What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?”
10 The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11 Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”
12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision, just as the king had ordered. 13 But Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors 14 and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”
15 So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of the Lord, for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.
16 When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded,
“Down with the dynasty of David!
We have no interest in the son of Jesse.
Back to your homes, O Israel!
Look out for your own house, O David!”
So the people of Israel returned home. 17 But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.
18 King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. 19 And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David.
20 When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.
21 When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against the men of Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.
22 But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God, 23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and went home, as the Lord had commanded.
